Auto trim

ABSTRACT

A simulated wood decorative panel is provided with a continuous simulated wood molding around the marginal edge thereof. The molding comprises a plurality elongated relatively straight vinyl strips having a cross section that simulates the wood door frames used on early &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;station wagons.&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; An annular blank having a cross section similar to the elongated strips is cut into sections to provide arcuate corners between adjacent trim strips.

United States Patent n91 Loew [75] Inventor:

[ AUTO TRIM Theodore Loew, Schenectady, NY.

[73] Assignee: The Standard Products C0,,

1 Dearborn, Mich.

221 Ffled: Jun 27,1973 121] Appl. No.: 383,242

[52] U.S. Cl 161/31, 156/63, 156/71, 161/167,161/413, 296/1 R, 296/29,D12/196 [51] Int. Cl 1337b 33/00 [58] Field of Search 52/313, 716, 717;'296/1 R, 296/28 R, 29', D12/196; 156/71, 63; 161/31,

1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1969 Erwin 161/119 x Mar. 4,1975 3,709,770 1/1973 Hale ..161/44.

3,728,833 4/1973 Grossman 52/716 X D183,633 9/1958 Reynolds Dl2/190 X 1Primary E.\'aminerEdward G. Whitby Attorney, Agent, 0r'FirmHarness,Dickey & Pierce 571' ABSTRACT A simulated wood decorative panel isprovided with a continuous simulated wood molding around the marginaledge thereof. The molding comprises a plurality elongated relativelystraight vinyl strips having a cross section that simulates the wooddoor frames used on early station wagons." An annular blank having across section similar to the elongated strips is cut into sections toprovide arcuate corners between adjacent trim strips.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures AUTO TRIM BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates generally to the art of 5decorative moldings and more particularly to a molding adapted to framea decorative panel on an automotive vehicle or the like.

Historically, automotive vehicles known as station wagons utilized wooddoor panels set into relatively massive wood frames. While astheticallypleasing, such early door constructions were hard to maintain anddeteriorated rapidly.

The'adventof wood grained vinyl decorative film offered the automotivestylist the opportunityv to provide the asthetic quality of wood withoutitsnegative maintenance characteristics. However, to complete thesimulation of earlier wood constructions, the' relatively heavy woodframes used on early station wagons had to be simulated. This problemhas been heretofore solved by a molded fiberglass reinforced plasticshell to which a wood applique is applied. Alternative solutions to theproblem have been aluminum stampings, rolled alumi num sections or onepiece vacuum formed plastic frames, to which a wood grain applique isbonded.

In providing such decorative panel system suitable for the after marketin kit form as well as for original equipment manufacturers, a problemhas been found to exist in forming arcuate corners between adjacent relatively straight molding strips. More particularly, it has been foundthat while molding strips formed of plastic material such as polyvinylchloride can be flexed to frame the wheel well openings of the vehicle,the minimum radius of curvature to which such moldings can be flexed isapproximately five times the width thereof. Thus, corners which musthave a smaller radius for asthetic reasons must be treated differently.

This problem is solved, in accordance with the present invention, by anovel annular'molding, the outer radius of which can be of any radiusless than five times the width of the straight moldings. Segments arecut from the blank to accommodate any corner situation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational viewof anexemplary station wagon having a wood grained decor panel framed issized to accommodate various automotive body panels and doors and isadhesively bonded theretoReIatively larger decorative moldings 16, 18,20, 22, 24 and 26 are disposed about the marginal edges of the panel 14to provide the so-called town and country appearance. The moldings l6,18, 20, 22, 24 and 26, each having edge portions tangentially related toarcuate corner sections, hereinafter described in detail.

The moldings l6, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are preferably formed fromextruded thermoplastic polymeric material, for example, polyvinylchloride, having a simulated wood grain finish layer approximately .007inches thick on one side and a pressure sensitive adhesive backing onthe opposite side. Characteristically, the moldings 16-26 have across-sectional configuration such that they can be bowed or flexed tothe contour of the wheel openings formed in the front and rear sheetmetal panels of the vehicle 10. In this regard. it has been found thatthe moldings l626 can be flexed to form an arc having a minimum radiusof curvature approximately five times the width of the moldings.Accordingly, ifa radius of curvature of less than five times the widthof one of the moldings is required at, for example, corners betweenadjacent moldings; a relatively small arcuately shaped section isrequired to interfit be- 1 tween the terminal ends thereof.

by a continuous molding in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thesubject invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the station wagon illustratedin FIG. 1 encircled in the dash/dot lines designated by the numeral 2; 7

FIG. 3 is a plan view ofa blank utilized in framing the corner sectionsof the continuous molding framing the decor panel; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the blank illustrated inFIG. 3 taken on the lines 4-4 thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to thedrawings, an automotive vehicle 10, for example a station wagon, isprovided with a decor panel 12 which extends substantially across theside sheet metal portions thereof. The decor panel 12 comprises apolyvinyl chloride film 14 printed with a wood grain and covered with aclear, ultra-violet resistant film, e.g. polyetra fluoride or acrylic.The film 14 In accordance with the present invention, and as best seenin FIGS. 2 and 3, a section 30 is cut from an annular shapedblank 32 andremoved therefrom for interfitting between adjacently located moldings24 and 26. In a similar manner, a section 28 is removed from the blank32 and interfitted between the moldings l6 and 26,- the section 28providing a return bend of almost In view of the exemplary sections 28and 30, it will be observed that additional sections can be cut from theblank 32 for acceptance between the remaining adjacently locatedmoldings resulting in continuous framing of the marginal edges of thedecor panel .14.

With respect to the construction of the blank 32 and with reference toFIG. 4, each of the blanks 32 comprises an annular shaped core 34 formedfrom vinyl and covered by an exterior layer 36 having a wood grainedfinish which corresponds to the exterior finish of the moldings 16-26.The opposite side of the blank 32 has a relatively thin layer of anadhesive 38 thereon to affix the sections 28 and 30 to the sheet metalpanels of the vehicle 10. To facilitate handling, a removable protectivesheet may be applied over the adhesive surface 38 which is peeled offupon assembly.

It will be seen that by utilization of the blank 32, the number ofcomponents necessary to complete the installation of a decorative panelis reduced to only two items, namely, an elongated molding that can flexto a minimum radius of approximately five times its width, and anannular blank that can be cut to accommodate any desired cornerconfiguration having a radius less than five times the width thereof.

Thus, a decorative simulated wood trim assembly in accordance with thepresent invention is not limited to a specific model or manufacturer andcan be supplied in kit form for installation by the vehicle owner.

variation, and change without departing from the proper scope or fairmeaning of the claims hereof.

What is claimed is:

- 1. In a simulated wood decorative assembly for the sides of a vehicle,a panel of plastic material having a simulated wood exterior surface, aplurality of relatively straight moldings of plastic material having asimthe steps of: bonding a panel of plastic material having a simulatedwood exterior surface to the sides of the vehicle, bonding a pluralityof relatively straight moldings of plastic materialhaving a simulatedwood exterior surface about the periphery of said panel with the endportions thereof spaced from one another, forming an annulus of plasticmaterial having a radial cross-section and exterior finish similar tothat of said moldings, cutting corner sections from said annulus, andbonding said corner sections between said spaced end portions so as tohave the outer edge of said moldings disposed tangentially related tothe outer periphery of said corner sections.

1. In a simulated wood decorative assembly for the sides of a vehicle, apanel of plastic material having a simulated wood exterior surface, aplurality of relatively straight moldings of plastic material having asimulated wood exterior surface substantially framing said panel withthe end portions thereof spaced from one another, a circular element ofplastic material haVing a radial cross-section similar to said moldingswhich is cut into arcuate sections and disposed between adjacent ends ofsaid moldings, and adhesive means for affixing said moldings and arcuatesections to said panel to form a continuous frame thereabout.
 2. IN AMETHOD OF TRIMMING THE SIDES OF A VEHICLE WITH A SIMULATED WOODDECORATIVE ASSEMBLY WHICH INCLUDES THE STEPS OF: BONDING A PANEL OFPLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING A SIMULATED WOOD EXTERIOR SURFACE TO THE SIDESOF THE VEHICLE, BONDING A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY STRAIGHT MOLDINGS OFPLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING A SIMULATED WOOD EXTERIOR SURFACE ABOUT THEPERIPHERY OF SAID PANEL WITH THE END PORTIONS THEREOF SPACED FROM ONEANOTHER, FORMING AN ANNULUS OF PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING A RADIALCROSS-SECTION AND EXTERIOR FINISH SIMILAR TO THAT OF SAID MOLDINGS,CUTTING CORNER SECTIONS FROM SAID ANNULUS, AND BONDING SAID CORNERSECTIONS BETWEEN SAID SPACED END PORTIONS SO AS TO HAVE THE OUTER EDGEOF SAID MOLDINGS DISPOSED TANGENTIALLY RELATED TO THE OUTER PERIPHERY OFSAID CORNER SECTIONS.